Matt Miller, a descendant of Private A.E. Miller, who died of wounds sustained during the first day of the battle at Vimy Ridge was kind enough to furnish some photographs of Private Miller’s resting place. He is buried along with 5776 other casualties of war. 459 of those dead are Canadians, and of those,e only one other man of the 18th Battalion, Private Braybrook, is buried at the Boulogne Eastern Cemetery.
Private Miller was underage when he enlisted and died at the age of 17. (Per information from a family member. See blog comment.)
These images were kindly posted at the 18th Battalion Facebook Group by Private Miller’s descendant, Matt Miller. Below the images is a Summary of Service for Private Miller.
Summary of Service for Private Albert Edward Miller. Reg. No. 226140
| Date | Event | Remarks |
| September 3, 1899 | Born | Indicates on attestation papers he was born in Canterbury, England to Albert and Lizzie Miller. There is a reference to Cranbrook, England. |
| October 13, 1915 | Enlists | Died of wounds sustained at Vimy Ridge at No. 3 Canadian Hospital, Boulogne, France.
Private Miller lies at rest with only one other member of the 18th Battalion, Private C.A. Braybrook, reg. no. 189320 at the Boulogne Eastern Cemetery at Boulogne, France. |
| October 1915 – March 1916 | Canadian Mounted Rifles | Serves with the C.M.R. until he is drafted in the first overseas draft April 1, 1916. |
| January 17, 1916 | Anti-Typhoid Inoculation | First of a three-course set of inoculations. |
| January 21, 1916 | Anti-Typhoid Inoculation | Second of a three-course set of inoculations. |
| January 25, 1916 | Vaccinated | |
| January 26, 1916 | Anti-Typhoid Inoculation | Third of a three-course set of inoculations. |
| March 29, 1916 | Embarks for England | Embarks via Halifax, Nova Scotia for England aboard the S.S. Olympic. |
| April 1, 1916 | Assigns Pay | Assigns $20.00 per month to his mother, Lizzie Miller. |
| April 11, 1916 | Arrives England | Disembarks and arrives Shornecliffe and is assigned to the Lord Strathcona Horse Regiment. |
| April 12, 1916 | Taken on Strength | Lord Strathcona Horse Regiment at Shorncliffe, England. |
| July 27, 1916 | Transferred | Transferred to the 11th Reserve Battalion (Infantry), 1st Canadian Training Brigade. |
| September 17, 1916 | Taken on Strength | 11th Reserve Battalion, Shorncliffe. |
| September 27, 1916 | Transferred and sent overseas | Transferred to 18th Battalion and begins journey to the front. |
| September 28, 1916 | Arrives C.B.D. | Arrives Canadian Base Depot, Etaples, France. |
| October 10, 1916 | Arrives “In the Field” | Arrives at the Somme. The Battalion is in reserve and is in billets at Bonneville. Private Miller arrives along with 127 other ranks as reinforcements. These are needed after the action at the Somme during September 15 until October 5, 1916 where the Battalion suffered many casualties. |
| April 10, 1917 | Wounded | Private Miller was part of the now famous Attack on Vimy Ridge. He survived the first day of the attack on April 9 and then was wounded with shrapnel in his right thigh. Gas gangrene set in necessitating the amputation of this leg which stopped the gangrene from spreading. Sadly, his condition did not improve and he died as a result of his wounds.
The War Diary for this date relates:
“Battalion in Black Objective during daylight improving trench and funk-holes as much as possible. At dusk 18th Cdn. Bn. relieved 1st R.W. Kents[viii] in captured line., with Bn. H.Q. at CRAMER HAUS, A.5.b.8.4. and elements of the 29th Cdn. Bn. with H.Q. at A.6.c.8.8. Reliefs moved of by Sections with 50 yards interval between each. This relief was difficult and very complicated owing to the nature of Divisional boundary,[ix] and being made at night the finding of the map locations and the placing of the men in new positions was no light task for the Officers concerned. On completion of this relief the disposition of the Battalion was “A”, “B” and 1 Platoon of “C” Coy in front line, “D” Coy and the remaining 2 platoons of [“C”] in support. The frontage being from B1.d.f.2 to S.30.d.4.5. Bn. H.Q. being located at A.6.c.8.8.”
It does not give the number of wounded that day but 3 men of the 18th died on that date. 120 were reported to have died the day before during the attack. |
| April 15, 1917 | Dies of Wounds | Dies of wounds sustained at Vimy Ridge at No. 3 Canadian Hospital, Boulogne, France.
Private Miller lies at rest with only one other member of the 18th Battalion, Private C.A. Braybrook, reg. no. 189320 at the Boulogne Eastern Cemetery at Boulogne, France. |
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History of the 18th Battalion CEF, "The Fighting Eighteenth" 
Private Miller is my great uncle. Your article notes that he was 19 years old at the time of his death. He was in fact 17 years old.
Thank you for reaching out and with this correction. Please review the change and let me know if there is anything else I can do.